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Pakistan is a theocratic state. It was founded for Muslims under the leadership of Mohammed Jinnah, who, during the Indian movement for independence, negotiated a home state for the Muslims in India. Since 1948, Pakistan has seen one upheaval after another. The death of Mohammed Ali Jinnah created a vacuum that both military dictators and civilian rulers have tried to fill with limited success. Jinnah’s death led to the assassination of Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan in 1951. That year also brought about two coup attempts by the Pakistani military, and in 1953 martial law was declared in Pakistan.

The imposition of martial law was a harbinger of things to come. Even though a civilian government was installed in 1956 and a constitution was written, a ...